John Stevens at the Circus
Fall 1912 – London
The grounds of Regent’s park had been taken over by several small tents as a Circus had arrived in town. Charles Langdon walked slowly through the mass of people trying to find his little girl. Finally coming across her as she starred up at a huge display of candy he grabbed her hand roughly and looked at her. “Amanda, how many times have I told you that you should not run from me like that, you never know what is going to happen to you out in public.”
“I am sorry father, I was just drawn to these magnificent little lights, and the wonderful aroma of fairy floss. Can I have one father, oh please?”
Charles could never be angry at his daughter, she had the keys to his heart ever since she was a small baby, he reached into his suit coat and drew out a few pence, handing them to Amanda, he spoke softly, “Only buy one love, I do not wish you to feel a tummy ache tonight.”
She smiled at him as she turned towards the vendor and pointed at the pink spiral of fairy floss. The gentleman smiled at her and then took out a small stick and spun some of the sugary goodness for her and then handed it to her… “No charge lass, but next time, wait for your father.”
Amanda smiled back and him and then grabbed her father’s hand… “Hurry, we are going to miss the Jungle Boy! I have heard that they captured him from the depths of the African Jungle!”
Charles looked down at his daughter and shook his head… “It is probably the owners son with make-up.” As his daughter drug him towards the big tent and towards an available set of seats.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls of all ages, prepare to meet the most fascinating boy you have ever met, At the age of ten, he looks like a fully grown man. He does not speak the Queen’s English, but can tell a monkey to hit a plate from 50 meters. I give you the one, the only Jungle Boy!”
The crowds eyes immediately went towards the entrance as a man walked slowly through the doors, dressed in nothing but a loin cloth he looked about with disgust and anger, his hands and ankles bound with chains as he made his way out into the center ring. A snarl coming from his lips as he stood there and glared about.
Charles looked at the boy and lost his breath, it was a spitting image of Lord Robert Stevens. He closed his eyes and looked again, and saw his old friend standing there in the flesh. Then his heart cried in pain as he remembered the tragic death of his friend and wife. Looking down at Amanda he saw the fascination in her eyes looking upon the Jungle Boy. Trying to gather his wits he looked about the crowd, seeing them applaud the boy standing in the middle of the ring, then looking back towards the tall muscular boy standing there.
“Jungle Boy will now have a tiger stand on its head.” The man in the suit yelled as a tiger was lead slowly into the middle of the ring, men with strong iron polls holding the tiger at bay, making sure he does not escape. Screams and gasps reach out of the crowd as Charles feels his daughter grab at his coat. “Do not worry, the tiger will not harm a soul, Now Jungle Boy, tell your friend to lay down.”
The boy glared at the man in the suit, his nose cringing up as he knelt down and looked at the tiger, his hands moving down to he floor as he growled and snarled at the hairy beast. The tiger looked back at the boy, like they were one in the same, bound into servitude to these Masters and laid down slowly onto the ground.
The crowd roared in applause as the tiger laid down slowly. Amanda slowly released her grasp on her father’s coat. Then starred at amazement as the tiger slowly placed his head on the ground and as the boy snarled and growled. Slowly lifted his body up with his legs, placing his front paws by his head and then leaping up with his back legs, putting weight on his head and standing upon its head.
The crowd leaped up off its feet clapping widely as the boy stood up and glared evily at each and every one, until he caught the eye of Charles who stood there transfixed. The boy cocked his head like there was some small measure of recongnition there. The boy turned his head to the left and then the right his eyes not moving from Charles’s.
Amanda looking upon the boy and then her father, seeing him locked in a gaze with the boy, unsure of what is happening, grabbing his sleeve and pulling trying to break the lock. “Daddy, what is wrong?”
Charles unable to break the gaze of the boy whispered softly, “That is John Stevens.”
